Explore the latest news and trends  

Sign up for our weekly security newsletter


Be the first to receive important updates on security





Send

Phishing Increases as NDR Spam Tapers Off

As per Symantec, hishing scam is rising high. The company's report, "State of Spam May 2008", analyzes the growth of spam in April 2008 and said that around 80% of the total mails in April 2008 were reported to be spam.

Symantec added that mostly the junk mails are coming from the US. The report also said that the most recent spam can take the shape of a subpoena, appeared to have come from the US District Court, IRS refund, or a calendar invite, in 'net cast wide' blasts or more specific 'spear phishing' normally targeted at enterprises.

The report from Symantec also said that out of the 80% of total spam found in April 2008, 19% were unauthentic or scam mails, which direct users to divulge their private data. An example is a message, which questions, "Do you want to be a movie extra?" If a user clicks on the URLs in the message, then he/she will be taken to a Web browser directed by spammer who will ask for more personal data.

Executive Editor of antispam Engineering at Symantec, Doug Bowers, said that now it's not mere a promotion anymore rather it compel people to reveal their private data, so that they can attempt to rip people off, reported by DMNews on May 6, 2008.

As the phishing attacks continue to increase, Non- delivery report (NDR) bounce messages rose after April 22, 2008. These kinds of messages take advantage of systems that will give back out of offices messages, mailbox quota messages and complete copies of messages with reports of failure in delivery.

As per the report from Symantec, it was found that NDR spam averaged 2.7% in March 2008 and 3.7% in April 2008. But towards the closure of April, NDR spam were found to be less than 2% of the total spam. In some of the recent studies, Symantec also discovered that some spam messages are coming from Google AdWorlds.

The report also talks about a spear phishing, which needs more discerning eye, especially the ones that attack enterprises.

Symantec also suggests users to be caution and try to identify unauthentic and fraud mails. They also advised them to have some security technology knowledge.

Related article: Phishing With A Redirector Code

» SPAMfighter News - 5/12/2008

3 simple steps to update drivers on your Windows PCSlow PC? Optimize your Slow PC with SLOW-PCfighter!Email Cluttered with Spam? Free Spam Filter!

Dear Reader

We are happy to see you are reading our IT Security News.

We do believe, that the foundation for a good work environment starts with fast, secure and high performing computers. If you agree, then you should take a look at our Business Solutions to Spam Filter & Antivirus for even the latest version of Exchange Servers - your colleagues will appreciate it!

Go back to previous page
Next